Keshav Chandra Datt, a great Indian hockey player died on Wednesday morning. He played during the country’s post-independence golden era.
He died at the age of 95.
Datt was a terrifying halfback who was a key part of independent India’s historic victory over Great Britain In the 1948 Olympics final at Wembley Stadium in London shows his performance.
Datt had toured East Africa in 1947 under the leadership of hockey legend Major Dhyan Chand, before the 1948 Olympics.
Datt was born in Lahore on December 29, 1925. He was also a member of the Indian team at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. They won the gold medal for the fifth time in a row by defeating the home side Netherlands 6-1 in the final.
Datt represented Mohun Bagan, the most prominent Indian club at the time, in numerous sports. He moved to Calcutta in 1950.
Hockey India president, Gyanendro Ningombam, said, “We are all very saddened to hear about the legendary halfback Keshav Datt’s demise early this morning. He was the lone surviving member of the 1948 and 1952 Olympic Games, and today truly feels like the end of an era.
We all grew up listening to incredible stories of their memorable outings for independent India at the Olympics and they went on to inspire generations of hockey players in the country. Hockey India mourns his demise and on behalf of the federation I extend my deepest condolences to his family.”
